The Defense Industry Partnership
We are in the process of building these web pages that will provide our membership information on, updates to and the final outcomes of our Defense Industry Partnership. You will see us building the site over the next few months.
Our industry sector is one of the most important elements in the economic health of our state. The grant, provided by the RI Deprtment of Labor and Training and awarded by the Governor's Work Force Development Board is designed to help SENEDIA become a more affective steward of the work force in the State that supports the Defense and Homeland Security agencies of our government.
Partnership Overview
The Rhode Island governor’s Workforce Development Board and Department of Labor and Training has provided a grant to create a Defense Industry Partnership, with the lead organization being the Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA) and other partners to include the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, the Middletown Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Rhode Island STEM Center at Rhode Island College. This long integrated relationship and history of activity in promoting the defense industry for the state of RI, with the leadership of the Governor's office and EDC, is the natural Defense Industry Partnership for the state.
This project is necessary to address the current needs in the defense industry, specifically the need to enhance workforce capabilities, and the importance of hiring, retaining and attracting skilled workers in RI. Despite current economic challenges, the defense industry has seen an area of growth in RI's economy. Therefore, we see workforce development in this industry as a way to accelerate an economic recovery for the state and provide good paying, high skilled job opportunities to Rhode Islanders.
Project Goals:
- Formalizing a Partnership that links the private business sector, with a quasi-public entity and a local government within which the bulk of the state's defense cluster is located, with the primary workforce development organization in the state, making it easier to streamline initiatives at different levels.
- Identify industry needs for workforce development.
Develop a long-term sustainability plan for the Defense Industry Partnership - Identify funding streams available for different initiatives related to workforce development
- Implement workforce development strategies for organizations and educational institutions
- Identify youth/adult to career pathways and opportunities
Work toward facilitating alignment of PK-16 educational standards with industry credential
These goals will be met by outreach efforts to involve more companies and entities throughout the state; an analysis of the existing SENEDIA organizational structure and a funding plan to incorporate professional staff to ensure sustainability; a funding plan to address workforce development opportunities; a skills gap study for the industry; a workforce development workshop series to identify educational needs and existing programs; a policy analysis to make recommendations for implementation and development of career paths and new credentials; and a plan to further utilize state and local workforce agencies to advance the goals of the Partnership.